Published: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 3:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 3:53 p.m.

The UNCW athletic department will be leaner next year if Chancellor Gary Miller and the Board of Trustees opt to follow recommendations made Wednesday by the Intercollegiate Athletics Review Committee.

In an 18-page report, the 19-person committee recommended that UNCW no longer sponsor teams in men's and women's swimming and diving, men's indoor track, men's cross country and softball beginning in the 2013-14 academic year.

The final decision on the recommendations will be reached in the “coming weeks,” according to a UNCW spokesperson and requires approval of the chancellor and the Board of Trustees.

What had to be done

Miller appointed the committee in February, asking it to identify the optimal sports portfolio at UNCW, “one that would ensure all programs have opportunities to achieve national prominence.”

Instability in leadership, a struggling flagship men's basketball program, insufficient fundraising, northern expansion of the Colonial Athletic Association and aging facilities put the 19-team department in a financial predicament and in dire need of upheaval. The committee's report states that these issues are the result of years of “temporary solutions” and the UNCW athletic department “is facing a fiscal crisis.”

The only suitable choice was to eliminate five programs, affecting as many as 117 athletes.

“As heavy as our hearts have been as we finalized these recommendations, we realize nothing compares to how our student-athletes and coaches will feel at the possibility of their programs being eliminated,” committee chair Terry Curran, head of academic affairs, said in a statement. “While these recommendations will surely invite disappointment and debate, inaction was not an option. The committee did its best to meet the chancellor's charge, and we submit this report with the greatest of hopes that by facing tough decisions now, UNCW Athletics will be able to strengthen its remaining programs and be even more competitive in all sports for years to come.”

Where the money is

Based on numbers reported by the university for the 2011-12 school year, the cuts would eventually release 15.36 athletic scholarships and, over time, enable the department to reinvest nearly $900,000 in the remaining 14 programs, imperative considering expenses have exceeded revenues by more than $1.4 million the last three years. That gap was described by the committee as an “epic level of concern.”

The athletic department's reserve fund has decreased by 82 percent since 2009 and is approximately $2 million short of the minimum six-month operating balance for programs sponsored by student fees.

Donations to the Seahawk Club, the university's athletics fundraising arm, are anticipated to be $400,000 to $500,000 shy of the budgeted $1.047 million in 2012-13, meaning the department is expected to lose another $600,000.

The committee met with coaches and athletes from 17 of the school's current 19 sports and listened to their concerns. Ultimately, they identified two significant vulnerabilities in the department's organizational model: lack of expertise in budget and fiscal management and facility development, planning and operations.

It also recommended revisiting an ambitious strategic plan that was released in May 2011.

“If UNCW is determined to meet Chancellor Miller's goal of competing with national prominence while at the same time restoring fiscal responsibility, UNCW must act now,” the report states.

Operating expenses for softball and the two swimming and diving programs exceeded $900,000 according to UNCW's 2011-12 financial report to the NCAA.

The committee recommends using the savings to upgrade facilities to create a more “fan-friendly environment. In addition, expand the strength and conditioning, academic support and sports medicine staff for the remaining sports.”

It also feels the university should continue to evaluate conference affiliation opportunities. Both Chancellor Miller and athletic director Jimmy Bass have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to the CAA, although it demands several lengthy, costly trips each season, which force missed class time.

UNCW will honor scholarship commitments for any athletes in any dropped sport, as long as they remain on track toward graduation, including those in the freshman class of 2013-14, should they wish to stay.

If the proposals are adopted, UNCW will have 14 athletic teams, the minimum required by the NCAA to maintain Division I status.

UNCW proposed cuts

The UNCW Intercollegiate Athletic Review Committee recommended Wednesday that the university no longer sponsor five sports, dropping its total to a Division I-minimum 14 for the 2013-14 school year.

Softball, men's indoor track, men's cross country and both swimming & diving programs would be eliminated if the university follows all of the recommendations, and the committee projects the university will be able to eventually reinvest $800,000 annually.

A look at the programs affected, using numbers from the 2011-12 school year provided by UNCW:

Sport

# of

# of

Athletes

Total $

Total $

Athletes

Scholar.

on Scholar.

Expenses

Revenue

Softball

20

6.39

15

365,542

12,621

Men's Swimming

30

3.84

17

281,162

68,375

Women's Swimming

41

5.13

24

314,178

67,547

Totals

91

15.36

56

960,882

148,543

Men's Track/XC*

47

4.79

27

271,061

19,528

* – For NCAA reporting purposes, cross country, indoor track and outdoor track are combined. These numbers for UNCW would decrease proportionally; however, the university reported 21 men on the cross country team in fall 2011.

<p>The <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a> athletic department will be leaner next year if Chancellor Gary Miller and the Board of Trustees opt to follow recommendations made Wednesday by the Intercollegiate Athletics Review Committee.</p><p>In an 18-page report, the 19-person committee recommended that UNCW no longer sponsor teams in men's and women's swimming and diving, men's indoor track, men's cross country and softball beginning in the 2013-14 academic year.</p><p>The final decision on the recommendations will be reached in the “coming weeks,” according to a UNCW spokesperson and requires approval of the chancellor and the Board of Trustees.</p><h3>What had to be done</h3>
<p>Miller appointed the committee in February, asking it to identify the optimal sports portfolio at <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a>, “one that would ensure all programs have opportunities to achieve national prominence.”</p><p>Instability in leadership, a struggling flagship men's basketball program, insufficient fundraising, northern expansion of the Colonial Athletic Association and aging facilities put the 19-team department in a financial predicament and in dire need of upheaval. The committee's report states that these issues are the result of years of “temporary solutions” and the UNCW athletic department “is facing a fiscal crisis.”</p><p>The only suitable choice was to eliminate five programs, affecting as many as 117 athletes.</p><p>“As heavy as our hearts have been as we finalized these recommendations, we realize nothing compares to how our student-athletes and coaches will feel at the possibility of their programs being eliminated,” committee chair Terry Curran, head of academic affairs, said in a statement. “While these recommendations will surely invite disappointment and debate, inaction was not an option. The committee did its best to meet the chancellor's charge, and we submit this report with the greatest of hopes that by facing tough decisions now, UNCW Athletics will be able to strengthen its remaining programs and be even more competitive in all sports for years to come.”</p><h3>Where the money is</h3>
<p>Based on numbers reported by the university for the 2011-12 school year, the cuts would eventually release 15.36 athletic scholarships and, over time, enable the department to reinvest nearly $900,000 in the remaining 14 programs, imperative considering expenses have exceeded revenues by more than $1.4 million the last three years. That gap was described by the committee as an “epic level of concern.” </p><p>The athletic department's reserve fund has decreased by 82 percent since 2009 and is approximately $2 million short of the minimum six-month operating balance for programs sponsored by student fees.</p><p>Donations to the Seahawk Club, the university's athletics fundraising arm, are anticipated to be $400,000 to $500,000 shy of the budgeted $1.047 million in 2012-13, meaning the department is expected to lose another $600,000.</p><p>The committee met with coaches and athletes from 17 of the school's current 19 sports and listened to their concerns. Ultimately, they identified two significant vulnerabilities in the department's organizational model: lack of expertise in budget and fiscal management and facility development, planning and operations.</p><p>It also recommended revisiting an ambitious strategic plan that was released in May 2011.</p><p>“If <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a> is determined to meet Chancellor Miller's goal of competing with national prominence while at the same time restoring fiscal responsibility, UNCW must act now,” the report states.</p><p>Operating expenses for softball and the two swimming and diving programs exceeded $900,000 according to UNCW's 2011-12 financial report to the NCAA. </p><p>The committee recommends using the savings to upgrade facilities to create a more “fan-friendly environment. In addition, expand the strength and conditioning, academic support and sports medicine staff for the remaining sports.”</p><p>It also feels the university should continue to evaluate conference affiliation opportunities. Both Chancellor Miller and athletic director Jimmy Bass have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to the CAA, although it demands several lengthy, costly trips each season, which force missed class time.</p><p>UNCW will honor scholarship commitments for any athletes in any dropped sport, as long as they remain on track toward graduation, including those in the freshman class of 2013-14, should they wish to stay. </p><p>If the proposals are adopted, UNCW will have 14 athletic teams, the minimum required by the NCAA to maintain Division I status.</p><p><i></p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic94"><b>Brian Mull</b></a>: 343-2034</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @BGMull</i></p><h3>UNCW proposed cuts</h3>
<p>The <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a> Intercollegiate Athletic Review Committee recommended Wednesday that the university no longer sponsor five sports, dropping its total to a Division I-minimum 14 for the 2013-14 school year. </p><p>Softball, men's indoor track, men's cross country and both swimming & diving programs would be eliminated if the university follows all of the recommendations, and the committee projects the university will be able to eventually reinvest $800,000 annually. </p><p>A look at the programs affected, using numbers from the 2011-12 school year provided by UNCW:</p><style type="text/css">
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<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Sport</th><th># of</th><th># of</th><th>Athletes</th><th>Total $</th><th>Total $</th></tr>
<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Athletes</td><td>Scholar.</td><td>on Scholar.</td><td>Expenses</td><td>Revenue</td></tr>
<tr><td>Softball</td><td>20</td><td>6.39</td><td>15</td><td>365,542</td><td>12,621</td></tr>
<tr><td>Men's Swimming</td><td>30</td><td>3.84</td><td>17</td><td>281,162</td><td>68,375</td></tr>
<tr><td>Women's Swimming</td><td>41</td><td>5.13</td><td>24</td><td>314,178</td><td>67,547</td></tr>
<tr><td>Totals</td><td>91</td><td>15.36</td><td>56</td><td>960,882</td><td>148,543</td></tr>
<tr><td>Men's Track/XC*</td><td>47</td><td>4.79</td><td>27</td><td>271,061</td><td>19,528</td></tr>
</table><p>* – For NCAA reporting purposes, cross country, indoor track and outdoor track are combined. These numbers for <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a> would decrease proportionally; however, the university reported 21 men on the cross country team in fall 2011.</p>